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AN ADDRESS 



OPENING OF THE NEW EDIFICE 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL 



On Sabbath Evening, September 10th, 1848. 



BY 

WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE, D. D. 

Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Albany. 

WITH AN 

APPENDIX. 



PHILADELPHIA. 
1848. 



INTRODUCTION. 

On the second Sabbath of Septem- 
ber, 1848, the day of the fifth anniver- 
sary of the Howard Sunday School, a 
new building was entered for the first 
time, with appropriate religious exer- 
cises. After reading a portion of the 
Scriptures by the Rev. Dr. Jones, pas- 
tor of the Sixth Presbyterian church, 
prayer was offered by the Rev. Dr. 
Cuyler. A succinct statement of the 
origin, progress, and completion of the 
building was then made, which forms 
a part of the contents of this little 
manual. 

The Rev. Dr. Sprague from Albany, 
who was present by invitation, deliver- 



INTRODUCTION. 



ed an address, which he kindly permit- 
ted the Trustees to publish, in answer 
to their unanimous request. Hymns 
appropriate to the occasion were sung ; 
and the exercises closed with prayer 
by the Rev. Mr. Webb, of the Baptist 
Church. It has been thought that a 
brief record of this humble labour of 
love, would furnish a memorial that 
w r ould not only be pleasant in retros- 
pect to the labourers themselves, but 
prove the occasion of inciting others to 
emulate or excel them. 



ADDRESS. 



I am always reluctant to rise before any 
audience with an apology; especially on an 
occasion that involves nothing beyond the 
legitimate exercise of my office, as a Chris- 
tian minister. But, I should be unjust to 
myself, if I were not distinctly to state that 
I appear before you this evening, in circum- 
stances that occasion me real, not to say 
depressing, embarassment. The occasion that 
has assembled you, has seemed to me of too 
domestic a character for the voice of a stran- 
ger to intermeddle with its exercises. You 
are here to commemorate God's goodness, 
and supplicate his blessing, and encourage 
your ow T n hearts, in reference to an object 
that is peculiarly your own ; and I cannot 
resist the impression that your thoughts had 
1* 



ADDRESS AT THE 

better receive their direction, at least from 
some one whose ministrations are familiar to 
you. But I have yielded my convictions 
and scruples to the earnest request of your 
beloved pastor ; and I have done it the rather, 
because between him and myself there exists 
an affectionate intimacy that dates back to 
the playful scenes of our early boyhood. I 
acknowledge then, that I have consented to 
perform this service, not so much from judg- 
ment, as from affection : but since I have 
undertaken it, you must allow me to divest 
myself, so far as I can, of the feelings of a 
stranger, and take advantage of all the hal- 
lowed associations that cluster about the 
occasion. I know not how I can better sub- 
serve the interests of your enterprise than by 
referring briefly to some of those considera- 
tions that illustrate its importance; consid- 
erations fitted at once to quicken your sense 
of obligation to the Divine goodness, and to 
assist your efforts in carrying out the great 
purpose for which the enterprise has been 
undertaken. 




HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 7 

I. Let me say, then, in the first place, 
that the most general, and, at the same time, 
the most simple view of the work in which 
you have engaged, is that it is the furnishing 
of a new place for religious instruction; it is 
the planting of a new battery to aid in the 
conflict with the powers of darkness ; it is the 
kindling of a new fire, to act with consuming 
energy on the corruptions and lusts of men, 
and to pour upon the darkened and bewilder- 
ed spirit the light of a new and spiritual life. 

The value of the gospel, and the conse- 
quent importance of a new establishment 
like this in aid of its extension, is to be esti- 
mated chiefly by this single fact — that the 
gospel is the poiver of Crod unto salvation. 
It does indeed incidentally accomplish other 
things. It throws a kindly influence upon 
man in all his social relations. It breathes 
through all the walks of society, the spirit of 
justice and courtesy and philanthropy. It 
imparts dignity and stability to human 
government; and is a faithful expounder of 
the reciprocal claims not only of individuals 



8 ADDRESS AT THE 

but of nations. In short, it is the nurse of 
humanity, of civilization, of patriotism, of 
true honour, of lofty purposes and actions, 
of every thing that brightens the path of our 
earthly existence; but all this becomes in- 
significant, when brought into comparison 
with that greater end which it accomplishes, 
the salvation of the soul. And here we 
labour under a mighty disadvantage from 
our inability adequately to describe, or even 
to conceive, how much, and what the soul's 
salvation includes. Look within thee, man, 
and take a lesson of the value of the soul, 
from those mysterious workings in thine own 
bosom. That power that thinks and feels, 
that conceives great enterprises and devises 
means for executing them, that now loses 
itself in abstract and profound contempla- 
tion and now takes to itself wings and flies 
off into infinite space — that power is thy 
soul. And now if thou wilt take further 
counsel of thine inward exercises, and at the 
same time open thine ear to the teachings cff 
God's word, thou shalt know that that soul is 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 9 

immortal : that it is diseased ; that it is con- 
demned ; that it is in imminent danger of suf- 
fering under an eternal curse. And thou 
shalt know too, that salvation is the healing 
of that inveterate malady; the reversal of 
that condemnatory sentence; the lifting 
from the soul of that eternal curse, and the 
final exaltation of the soul to a state of 
perfect purity and boundless joy. I thank 
God for all that Christianity does for this 
perishing body, for this vapour of a life; but 
I dare not speak of the body in comparison 
with the soul — of time, in comparison with 
eternity. I would sink all the achieve- 
ments of our holy religion, in the one all- 
absorbing consideration, that it educates the 
soul for immortality; that it is God's own 
agency for changing darkness into light, pol- 
lution into holiness, impotence into energy ; 
especially that it breaks the cord by which 
justice had bound the sinner to an illimita- 
ble course of suffering. Here, I repeat, here 
is the ultimate triumph of Christianity: it 
accomplishes the soul's salvation — a salva- 



10 ADDRESS AT THE 

tion that has its beginning on earth, its con- 
summation in heaven. 

And how does Christianity accomplish 
this? 

I answer, in the first place, the truths which 
she reveals are all accommodated to the con- 
stitution and circumstances of man, especial- 
ly as a fallen creature. I feel within me the 
operations of a sinful nature, the stirrings of 
a guilty conscience; and when I open the 
Bible, I find there a doctrine to which my 
experience answers as the impression to the 
seal ; and in connexion with this doctrine I 
find such an exposition of God's law as is 
fitted to deepen my sense both of sin and 
of danger. My troubled spirit anxiously 
inquires whether it is possible to find re- 
lief from these inward struggles and ap- 
prehensions. And here again the Bible 
answers, yes; for it proclaims a free for- 
giveness, and a free sanctification, and 
finally a free and complete salvation, to all 
who exercise repentance towards God and 
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The style 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 11 

of its invitations, its offers, its promises, is, 
"Come, for all things are now ready." 
"Whosoever will, let him come." "Him that 
cometh I will in no wise cast out." Not 
only is the redemption that is revealed of 
infinite value, hut it is applicable to the 
wants of all, who are sensible of their wants, 
and are willing to appropriate it. Every 
truth which the gospel teaches is of perfectly 
holy tendency, and is designed and adapted 
to leave a holy impress upon man's spirit ; 
in other words, it has its appropriate office 
to perform in the work of his salvation. 
And does the truth then, unaccompanied by 
any higher influence than its own, change 
man's heart, change his relations to God, 
change his prospects for eternity. That 
were indeed to be expected, if man's heart 
were not like the nether mill stone: but 
what Christ said to the Jews, is equally 
applicable to sinners of every age, and every 
character — " Ye will not come unto me that 
ye may have life." And hereby is created 
the necessity for the exertion of divine. power 



12 ADDRESS AT THE 

in giving to the truth a renovating effect. 
The gospel is emphatically a ministration of 
the Spirit; and in every case in which it 
accomplishes its legitimate end, the Spirit 
works in it and by it. It is indeed power- 
less, unless it be accompanied by this higher 
influence ; but where it is faithfully, earnest- 
ly, perseveringly preached, we may consider, 
as a general rule, that God's word is pledged 
that that influence shall not be withheld. 

What I have here asserted, is abundantly 
verified by the records of Christianity in 
every age. No doubt it is quite possible that 
a man should keep a Bible in his house, and 
yet, continuing in profound ignorance of its 
contents, should remain a stranger to its 
quickening power ; nor can any better result 
be anticipated, if he sits with closed ears and 
an utterly listless spirit under the preaching 
of the gospel. No doubt too, it is possible 
for a minister to spread out the Bible before 
him, and yet preach in such a manner that 
there may be no accompanying demonstra- 
tion of a divine energy. And I will not say 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 13 

that cases may not exist, in which, for a long 
time, no renovating influence may accom- 
pany even the faithful preaching of the 
word, so as to induce the lamentation on the 
part of Christ's ambassador — "Who hath 
believed our report?" But I do say with 
confidence that wherever the gospel is 
preached in simplicity and purity, there we 
have every reason to expect, in view of the 
church's past history, that the Spirit's effec- 
tual work will be going on, and, as a conse- 
quence, that there will be new accessions to 
the number of Christ's disciples. Look 
abroad to our missionary stations, no matter 
whether in our own or in other lands ; and 
mark how the gospel has gradually made an 
impression on the surrounding darkness ; 
how one after another has yielded to its 
subduing and regenerating influence, until 
perhaps the face of society is completely 
changed, and Christ has now a fair repre- 
sentation of followers, where, a little while 
since, there was not a solitary voice to 
speak his praise or to own his name. If 
2 



14 ADDRESS AT THE 

we can dispute evidence of the power of the 
gospel like this, then is there no evidence 
that is worthy of acceptation ; then is there 
no truth demonstrable by human experience. 
And now I ask you to estimate the impor- 
tance of your enterprise, considered simply 
as giving enlargement to the means of grace, 
as extending the knowledge and influence of 
that gospel by which alone man can be 
saved. If it were merely the interests of 
this poor brief life, that were here contem- 
plated, we might afford to look upon what 
you have been doing with comparative indif- 
ference. But when it is borne in mind that 
the instrumentality here put in operation, 
takes hold of the infinitely higher interests 
of the never dying life — that it aims at 
nothing less, and accomplishes nothing less, 
than the regeneration and exaltation and 
glorification of man's whole nature ; when it 
is remembered that though mortal voices 
alone will be heard here, yet that through 
the breathings of the human spirit, God's 
arm will be revealed, and his name magni- 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 15 

fled, and his glory made to shine more bright- 
ly, even upon the eye of seraphs — I say, 
when all this is considered, who will venture 
to set a limit to the importance of your en- 
terprise? Who will think of applying to it 
any other measure than that by which we 
estimate the soul itself, and God's glory 
manifested in its redemption? Be it so 
that the men of the world may regard your 
project as of no moment, and may even turn 
towards this edifice an eye of scorn, when 
they are told for what purpose it has been 
erected ; yet be assured that all who discern 
the things that are spiritual, will pronounce 
upon your effort a far different judgment. 
Your fellow Christians will bless God for 
what you have done, and ask him to bless 
you in what you are yet to do. The angels 
who make God's church their care, will be 
attracted hither by the triumphs of his grace 
which will here be manifested. And as one 
soul after another, renewed through your 
humble instrumentality, shall put off the 
earthly tabernacle and appear among the 



16 ADDRESS AT THE 

ransomed in Heaven, each of them will be 
hailed not only as a monument of God's 
redeeming mercy, but as a witness to the 
importance of your benevolent undertaking. 

What I have said thus far, applies to the 
house that you have opened in common w T ith 
every other place in which the gospel is dis- 
pensed: but there are other considerations, 
equally illustrative of the importance of your 
enterprise, of a more particular character. 
I remark then, 

II. In the second place, that you have 
here opened a place for the preaching of the 
gospel in a large city, I here use the word 
preaching in its more extended sense, as in- 
cluding any or all the public modes of Chris- 
tian instruction. 

The characters of men for good or evil, 
depend, in a great measure, on the external 
influences to which they are subjected. 
While every man has an individual and ulti- 
mate responsibility in respect to his own 
actions, there is an important sense in which 
men make each other what they are; and 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. IT 

this forming work is no doubt accomplished 
chiefly by the insensible influence of exam- 
ple. Whatever, therefore, serves to modify 
our social relations, or to multiply or dimin- 
ish the points of contact with our fellow men, 
or to give one complexion or another to our 
own immediate sphere of action, is to be con- 
sidered as constituting part of that providen- 
tial instrumentality by which our characters 
are formed. 

Now a moment's reflection will be suffi- 
cient to satisfy you that in a large city, like 
this, there must be influences at work to 
produce a peculiar intensity of evil, as well 
as to furnish some peculiar facilities for 
doing good; and both these considerations 
stamp your enterprise with signal import- 
ance. 

Need I say that here are many tempta- 
tions to evil that are unknown in the retire- 
ment of a country village. Here human 
ingenuity has tasked its powers to the utmost 
to do the work of the devil. The fine arts 
that should always minister to the cause of 
2* 



18 ADDRESS AT THE 

virtue, are put in requisition to strew the 
road to death with flowers, by giving to vice 
the highest possible attraction. Here men 
are crowded together; and while the bad 
have every opportunity to co-operate for evil, 
strengthening each others' hands, and keep- 
ing up each others' courage, and furthering 
each others' devices, they have also more 
easy access to the uncorrupt and unsus- 
pecting, and often accomplish a fatal work, 
before their malignant design has been 
discovered. As the fetid breath of a great 
number suffering under a loathsome malady, 
and crowded into the same apartment, cor- 
rupts the whole atmosphere, so the moral 
atmosphere of a great city, especially of 
certain portions of it, becomes absolutely 
pestilential, from the intense and multitudi- 
nous breathings of the spirit of depravity. 
In accordance with this representation we 
find that great cities have always been pro- 
verbial for great crimes. Here the spirit of 
the mob finds its element; men can assemble 
in frightful masses, and perform terrible 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 19 

acts, almost before the hand of civil power 
can overtake them. And here too the tale 
of individual deeds of profligacy most fre- 
quently shocks the public ear; and the 
whole community stands aghast at the fiend- 
like exploits of some incarnate demon. 
Hence the parent sends his son from the 
country to the city, with trembling anxiety ; 
and endeavours to surround him with all 
restraining, and healthful influences; and 
fears to inquire concerning him, lest he 
should hear that he is in league with the 
tempter; and alas! in too many instances, 
has his heart broken by having the convic- 
tion forced upon him that his son is ruined. 
Yes, I repeat, in every large city there are 
temptations to crime, facilities for crime, 
examples of crime, which ordinarily we look 
for nowhere else. 

Now the only effectual remedy for this 
great amount of evil, the only means that 
can be relied on for even keeping it in 
check, is the gospel— especially the gospel 
addressed to the young ; such a ministration 



20 ADDRESS AT THE 

substantially as is brought into existence by 
your own enterprise. The more of evangeli- 
cal and spiritual influence that there is put 
in operation among you, the less occasion 
will there be to fear from the multiform evil 
agencies that you have to contend with. 
And without a large and constantly increas- 
ing measure of such influence, these agencies 
will become more and more terrific, with 
your rapidly augmenting population. You 
have a right to rejoice then, and the good 
everywhere will rejoice with you — that you 
have set up this new standard in honour of 
Christ and his cause ; for it contemplates a 
fresh onset upon the empire of darkness at a 
point where constant vigilance and unwearied 
effort are most indispensable. 

But if there is that, in a large city, that 
specially requires that the influence of the 
gospel should be widely extended and active- 
ly exerted, the gospel has there also some 
special advantages for performing its ap- 
propriate work, and its friends have special 
encouragements for vigorous co-operation. 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 21 

Especially has it the advantage of finding a 
multitude of subjects to act upon; and by 
suitable effort on the part of the church and 
the ministry, great numbers may easily be 
brought under its awakening and quickening 
power. And as the principle of sympathy 
tends to evil in the unhallowed associations 
that here exist, working as a ministration of 
ruin and death, so the same principle may 
operate, does operate, in similar circumstan- 
ces for good; rendering men instrumental of 
bringing each other to reflection, to convic- 
tion, to repentance. And then Christians 
find some peculiar facilities for doing their 
appropriate work: the individuals whom 
they gather into the house of God, to hear 
his word and to be instructed in the Sabbath 
school, they can easily follow to their places 
of abode; and by a few minutes walk can 
perhaps overtake a number who will welcome 
them as the private expounders of God's 
truth. And they are thrown immediately 
together; they find it convenient to meet 
each other often, for purposes of mutual 



22 ADDRESS AT THE 

encouragement and edification; and thus 
their own good affections are quickened and 
improved by the common effort in which 
they unite for the good of their fellow crea- 
tures. I do not say that these advantages 
are absolutely peculiar to a city, but only 
that they are peculiar in degree — in such a 
degree certainly as to give to the opening of 
such a place as this, a signally propitious 
bearing on the great cause of truth and 
righteousness. 

III. A third consideration which ought to 
come into our estimate of the importance of 
this enterprise, is, that it makes provision 
not only for preaching the gospel, not only 
for preaching it in a city, but especially for 
preaching it to the poor. 

True, indeed, the gospel has the same 
great end to accomplish in respect to the 
rich and the poor — viz : their eternal salva- 
tion ; and both are to be saved in the same 
way, and through the same instrumentality. 
Nevertheless, there are some things that 
seem to give to the gospel and its ministry 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 23 

a peculiar adaptedness to the circumstances 
and wants of the poor. 

They have sufferings of which those in 
more favoured circumstances have but a 
slight conception. Many of their troubles 
indeed they have in common with others ; but 
even those troubles assume a more aggra- 
vated form from their association with po- 
verty. You, as well as they, are subject to 
the loss of health and to the pains of dis- 
ease ; but you can command all the allevi- 
ations and appliances that a competence, if 
not an abundance, can furnish, whereas they 
languish out months of pain, without per- 
haps a physician, or an efficient helper cross- 
ing their threshold. You and they both 
share in common the sorrows of bereave- 
ments ; but it is your privilege to see your 
friend go down to the grave amidst a pro- 
fusion of earthly comforts, and perhaps 
amidst all the joys which the prospect of a 
better world can inspire, while they watch 
the waning of life in those who are most 



24 ADDRESS AT THE 

dear to them, amidst sufferings of body which 
even a moderate competence might have 
alleviated — possibly, for want of the means 
of grace, amidst agonies of mind, tortures of 
guilt, that the Comforter might have charmed 
into peace. Indeed there is scarcely any 
affliction to which men are subject, which 
poverty does not render more severe. And 
hence there is a special reason why the poor 
should be supplied with the only effectual 
antidote to suffering — the gospel. If Provi- 
dence has made their dwellings darker than 
yours, let them have in common with your 
own, at least the glorious light of the gospel 
to illumine them. If they must suffer want 
in respect to the life that now is, let them 
not want the consoling hope of a glorious life 
to come. If they have no other treasure, 
yet if they have the Bible in their dwellings, 
and its truths in their minds, and its conso- 
lations in their hearts, they can well enough 
afford to leave the rest with God. Give to 
the poor the gospel, and you take from 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 25 

poverty its sting ; for what is poverty to those 
who possess the true riches, who are heirs 
to an incorruptible inheritance. 

But it cannot be disguised that poverty 
has its vices and crimes, as well as its suffer- 
ings ; and not unfrequently the former sus- 
tain to the latter the relation of an effect to 
its cause. The poor as well as the rich 
have temptations growing out of their pecu- 
liar circumstances; temptations to envy, to 
dishonesty, and even to vices of a yet grosser 
kind. Here also, there is the absence of 
most of those restraints which keep in check 
many of the evil passions, in connexion with 
a more cultivated state of society ; and ac- 
cordingly we usually look among this class 
for an exhibition of the coarser and more 
loathsome vices. And when it is remem- 
bered that these evil courses are fraught 
with ruin not for the present life only, but 
for eternity, that the most degraded being 
that we meet has a soul that must be re- 
newed, or run an interminable career of wo — - 
can we, in view of all this, form an excessive 
3 



26 ADDRESS AT THE 

estimate of the importance of letting the 
gospel have free course among the ranks of the 
poor ; of the importance of every effort that 
is put forth for the realizing of this object. 

I must not omit to say in this connexion 
that the great mass of those whom this en- 
terprise specially contemplates, but for some 
such instrumentality as is here provided, 
would not hear the gospel at all. You have 
already gathered many here who were unused 
to the voice of prayer and praise, and to the 
proclamation of divine truth; and perhaps 
some of this class now delight in the worship 
and service of God. And so it will be here- 
after. This will be a precious gathering 
place for many who might otherwise find 
some gathering place dark as the shadow of 
death; and here, while man speaks to the 
outward ear, God will speak to the con- 
science and the heart ; and the clean heart 
and the right spirit will come in place of 
darkness and pollution ; and they who have 
been the subjects of the regenerating process 
will bring others with them to obtain the 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 27 

like blessing ; and ere long you will find that 
a purifying influence that hath emanated 
from this place, is circulating even in the 
very haunts of moral death. Surely it is a 
thought that may well animate you in your 
darkest hours, that most of those who listen 
to the gospel here, would not have heard it 
elsewhere ; that those who here find it the 
power of God, and go up to heaven at last, 
because of its effectual working in their 
hearts, might, but for what you have done, 
have lived and died, and passed their whole 
eternity, with the curse of reprobation burn- 
ing upon their spirits. 

IV. The last consideration by which I 
would illustrate the importance of this work 
in which you have engaged is, that the min- 
istration which is here provided, is emphati- 
cally a ministration of charity. I refer here 
to its influence upon those who have origin- 
ated, and are hereafter to sustain it, rather 
than those upon whose moral and spiritual 
interests it is designed more directly to 
operate. 



28 ADDRESS AT THE 

If I have a right understanding of the 
case, this whole enterprise has been baptized 
with the spirit of Christian Charity ; I might 
almost say, that it is Charity herself descend- 
ing from her native skies, to save the poor 
and perishing. It was Charity that first 
devised the plan of such an establishment. 
Charity surveyed the obstacles in the way 
of its accomplishment, and resolved that they 
could be overcome. Charity has gathered 
here an efficient Sabbath school, and has dis- 
pensed, from time to time, the word of life, 
and has already witnessed results from its 
labours and sacrifices, over which we doubt 
not angels have rejoiced. Charity has erected 
this goodly and commodious edifice ; and she 
will hereafter dwell here as the presiding 
genius of the place; and the Saviour will 
have special complacency in what is done 
here, because the moving spirit will be the 
same with that which led him to lay down 
his life. And think you that Charity blesses 
the recipient alone ; that she has no blessing 
for him whose bosom she inhabits, and whose 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 29 

hand she opens ? I tell you, nay : hers is 
essentially a ministration of good in the 
heart, to the heart, in which she dwells. 
You who first started this noble project 
which is here so happily consummated; you 
through .whose communings and prayers and 
labours and sacrifices it has advanced from 
step to step to its present state; you who 
have not scrupled to put yourselves in com- 
munion not only with abject poverty and 
wretchedness, but with revolting and loath- 
some vice, for the sake of bringing their sub- 
jects into communion with the Saviour and 
the Sanctifier; — to you, to all of you who 
have been helpers in this blessed work, I 
appeal — have you not found a rich reward 
in all that you have been doing as you have 
passed along ; in the silent, approving testi- 
mony of your own spirit; in the special 
manifestation towards you of God's loving 
kindness; in the success with which your 
efforts have been crowned, and the gratitude 
with which, in some instances at least, they 
have been received? And let me say, this is 



3© ADDRESS AT THE 

but a foretaste of your full reward. You 
will not abandon this work of your own 
hands, but will carry it forward with in- 
creasing vigour and success. But, in the 
mean time, you may look for a large recom- 
pense in the spiritual influence that you will 
contribute to diffuse around you; in the 
renovated aspect of this portion of your city ; 
in the jubilees that will be kept in many of 
these humble dwellings, because their in- 
mates have turned to the Lord; and not im- 
probably in the joyful dying scenes of some, 
who will connect with this place and with 
your instrumentality, the strength which they 
have to encounter the monster, the confi- 
dence they have of entering into rest. But 
for the better part of your reward, need I 
say, you must wait till this mortal has put 
on immortality. It will come in the exceed- 
ing and eternal weight of glory; in your 
being permitted to recognize among the 
monuments of redeeming love, the monu- 
ments of your active charity; and to hear 
from the lips of the Judge, " Inasmuch as ye 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 31 

did it unto one of the least of these, my 
brethren, ye did it unto me." In this vie$, 
I say again, this is a noble enterprise of 
yours. The end of the commandment is 
love; the substance of the gospel is love; 
God himself is love ; and love, pure love — ■ 
I repeat, is the very spirit of your under- 
taking. 

It is to me a deeply interesting feature of 
your work, that it proposes to associate the 
ministry of the gospel and the Sabbath 
school in a combined assault upon the 
powers of evil. Each will be strengthened 
by the other's influence; each will minister 
to the other's efficiency; and by this goodly 
co-operation, we may confidently expect that 
glorious results will be produced. It is at 
just such a point as this, that the Sabbath 
school performs its most honoured and most 
effectual work. You who come hither from 
Sabbath to Sabbath in the capacity of 
teachers — may God sustain and encourage 
you. You cannot expect in such a place as 
this to hear the murmur of human applause ; 



32 ADDRESS AT THE 

but I doubt not that angels will be here to 
Whisper their approval; certainly the Lord 
of angels will be here, looking complacently 
on all that you do for his poor; and the 
day will come when it will seem more hon- 
ourable to have been engaged in the dis- 
charge of this humble office, than to have 
swayed a sceptre or worn a crown. 

I cannot but think that the church whose 
members have been honoured to take the 
lead in this enterprise, ought to consider 
herself as eminently favoured among the 
sister churches of your favoured city; for 
it is no small thing to have caused the 

word of life to be statedly sounded forth 

1/ 

through such a district as this. And may I 
not remind you, that you have many other 
things to think of in estimating your obliga- 
tions to Grod, as a congregation. You are 
at peace one with another, else it may well 
be doubted whether this labour of love would 
ever have been undertaken. You have as 
much of external prosperity, perhaps, as any 
church ought to desire. You have a pastor 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 33 

under whose ministrations God has blessed 
you abundantly. You have a former vene- 
rable pastor residing in the midst of you, by 
whose wisdom you may still profit, and whose 
occasional ministrations you are still privi- 
leged to enjoy.* And I must not omit to 
say that, until recently, you have been per- 
mitted to reckon in your number, a man who 
had stood for years as a very patriarch in the 
Church; who had lived and acted through 
heart moving scenes with the men of another 
age; whose name can never perish, while 
the history of our Church, or even the his- 
tory of our country survives. f He came, 
disburdened of public cares, and oppressed 
with bodily infirmities, to pass among you 
the days of his old age. I suppose you 
sometimes heard his voice in the pulpit; I 
know you frequently heard it at the com- 
munion table ; and I doubt not you felt it a 
peculiar privilege to mingle with such a 
spirit on such occasions; and especially to 
receive the consecrated memorials from his 

* Rev. Dr. Neill. f Rev. Dr. Green. 



34 ADDRESS AT THE 

trembling hands. You marked the gradual 
progress of his decay; some of you at least, 
knew how strong grace was amidst the 
greatest weakness of nature; and how the 
spirit of prayer and praise survived, I might 
almost say, his recognition of his dearest 
friends. And finally, he fell asleep among 
you; and though his grave is not here, as 
they carried him away to sleep with an illus- 
trious fraternity to which he belonged, yet 
here were the last actings of his spirit — the 
stretching of its wings for its celestial home. 
Had he survived till this day, with what 
deep interest would he have regarded this 
occasion ! Who can tell but that he regards 
it with a yet deeper interest now ; and that 
if we knew all, we should know that his 
glorified spirit is among a cloud of rejoicing 
witnesses that are hovering unseen in the 
midst of us ? 

My friends, I have insensibly detained 
you too long; but my apology is, that you 
have yourselves supplied me with a theme 
upon which I could not well say less. I 



HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 35 

commend you and your philanthropic enter- 
prise to God. May he graciously conde- 
scend to fill this house with his glorious, en- 
lightening, sanctifying presence. Let it be 
sacred to the cause of Truth, the cause of 
Righteousness, the cause of Charity. May 
its history, as it shall finally be displayed in 
God's eternal book, be the history of the 
regeneration and sanctification of a multi- 
tude of souls, who shall pass their whole 
eternity with you, in the vision and service 
of our exalted Lord. 



I 



APPENDIX. 



Brief Historical Sketch of the Howard Sunday School, 
delivered by the Rev. J. H. Jones, D. D., at the opening 
of the New Hall, September 10th, 1848. 

The Howard Sunday School originated, it 
is believed, in an impulse of the Spirit of 
God, by which several members of the Sixth 
Presbyterian church were moved to do more 
for his glory. While they saw with plea- 
sure, that Christians of different evangelical 
denominations were engaged in gathering 
into schools the neglected children in the 
outskirts or suburbs of the city, it appeared 
to them that there were very many equally 
destitute, on the lines of the city proper, who 
were almost wholly overlooked. 

At a meeting of the Teachers of the school 
in the church, the subject was discussed ; after 
which it was resolved to appoint a committee 
to seek a suitable location to open a school 
for this portion of children needing moral 
and religious instruction. A number of 
places having been examined, application 
was made for a room in the eastern part of 
Moyamensing, when Providence directed the 
4 



38 APPENDIX. 

attention of the committee to the Howard 
Temperance Hall, on the south side of Ship- 
pen street below Fourth. This was in the 
autumn of 1843. The building was engaged 
at once, and the school was opened on the 
second Sabbath of September, with eight 
scholars in the morning, and an increase of 
thirty in the afternoon. Such, briefly, is the 
origin of the Howard Sunday School. But 
the progress and success which led to the 
erection of a new building, may be better 
told by the teachers themselves in a commu- 
nication addressed to the " Friends of Chris- 
tian Benevolence" when they first resolved 
on undertaking it, inasmuch as it proved to 
be singularly prophetic. From this paper it 
appears that after they had become fully 
organized, and the nature of their benevo- 
lent labours known and rightly appreciated 
in the neighbourhood, the number of chil- 
dren increased so rapidly, that before the 
first year had expired, the room we occu- 
pied, say they, was found too small to con- 
tain the children who belonged to the school. 
The roll book numbered, January, 1847, 
over six hundred names of children who 
have been connected with the school; some 
of these have left the city, others have re- 
moved to a distance from the school ; some 
have died, and others attained an age enti- 



APPENDIX. 39 

tling them to be classed with adults. At this 
time there were connected with this school 
two hundred and fifty-two children and 
twenty-six teachers. During the past year 
there has been an average attendance of one 
hundred and forty-seven children and twen- 
ty-one teachers, w T hilst as many as two hun- 
dred and twenty-four children and twenty- 
four teachers have been present on an ordi- 
nary occasion. Compare this number of 
children and their teachers, with the size of 
the room at present occupied, (which is 
thirty feet by only fourteen feet wide,) and 
it will be seen that an imperative necessity 
exists for more ample accommodations. 

This class of population are frequently 
changing their residence, and these children 
have come to us with little or no effort to 
obtain them, as our seats are generally full 
without looking after absentees, much less 
seeking new scholars. The room occupied 
at present, will not accommodate, probably, 
more than half of the children who really 
belong to the school ; and we have no doubt 
that a room in that vicinity, capable of seat- 
ing three hundred children, could easily be 
filled every Sabbath; and a congregation of 
these p>eople gathered to hear the gospel 
preached. 

Very few of these children receive due 



40 APPENDIX. 

religious instruction at home, but, on the 
contrary, many are exposed to influences 
that will sweep them to destruction. 

Preaching has been regularly kept up on 
alternate Sabbath evenings, and it is intend- 
ed, if we are successful in obtaining a new 
room, to have the gospel preached every 
Sabbath gratuitously. 

The teachers, fearing that many of the 
children, as well as their parents, never go 
to a place of worship, visited the several 
families, and collected the following infor- 
mation: — That, out of one hundred and 
fifty-eight families who have children attend- 
ing this school, very few attend a place of 
worship; and fifty-six of these families ad- 
mitted that "they never go to church" — we 
were also encouraged by obtaining a promise 
from sixty families to attend a place of 
worship, should one be provided, where the 
gospel would be preached entirely free. 

On commencing the work of collecting the 
requisite funds, the book for subscriptions 
was handed to the pastor, who expressed his 
views of the enterprise by commending them 
and their cause, with great cordiality and 
earnestness, to all who, by their prayers and 
gifts, would co-operate in an enterprise of 
evangelical benevolence. 

The Rev. Dr. Wm. A. McDowell, Corres- 



APPENDIX. 41 

ponding Secretary of the Board of Missions, 
was pleased to confirm this commendation 
by adding: — "I am personally well acquaint- 
ed with the leading men engaged in the 
Howard Sunday School enterprise. They 
are active members of the Sixth Presbyte- 
rian church, of which Dr. Jones is pastor. 
The enterprise is one of great necessity and 
vast importance. The men engaged in it 
may be relied on. In my opinion, it has 
strong claims on the sympathies and aid of 
Christians in this city, and should receive 
immediate and liberal support." 

With these facts, the teachers of the 
Howard School appeal to their friends, and 
the friends of Christian benevolence, to 
assist them in this effort to obtain suitable 
accommodations for the increasing numbers 
of their school. Every ten dollars of the 
amount subscribed, to represent a share in 
the building, which shall entitle the holder 
to one vote for Trustees to be elected by 
them, to hold and control the building. 

John M. Harper, 
W. D. Snyder, 

In behalf of the Howard Sunday School. 

After the making of this appeal, the com- 
mittee issued forth to ascertain the result, 
notwithstanding their own personal and pri- 



42 APPENDIX. 

vate duties were numerous and pressing, yet 
such were their zeal and perseverance, they 
soon obtained $3000 — $725 of which were 
given by friends of the cause not connected 
with the congregation, leaving $2275 that 
were contributed by its members. It is due 
to this committee also to record that such 
was the prudence and kindness with which 
they proceeded, that they accomplished their 
difficult work without offending by their for- 
wardness, or leaving on the mind of any 
person applied to, an unpleasant impression. 
From the report of the Building Committee 
it will be seen that the whole cost of the 
house and furniture, was $4779.55, upon 
which $3037.64 had been paid at the time 
of opening the building, leaving a balance 
against the house of $1741.91, and after 
deducting the contents of boxes left at 
several houses, for the collection of mites, 
amounting to $150 and $200 subscribed, 
which was not then paid, the actual debt on 
entering the house was only $1391.91. 

On the 2d Sabbath of September the 
school was opened in the spacious and de- 
lightful room in their new building. From 
the commencement of the school in Sep- 
tember, 1843, to the present date, Sep- 
tember, 1848, the exercises have not been 
omitted a single Sabbath. The teachers 



APPENDIX. 43 

have discharged their duty with diligence 
and fidelity, which has been attended with 
encouraging tokens of Divine approbation. 
There has been a palpable improvement not 
only in the appearance and deportment of 
the children, but in the morals of many, and 
some, it is believed, have passed from death 
unto life. 

May the Great Head of the Church smile 
on this humble endeavour to be co-workers 
in carrying out the purposes of his redemp- 
tion; and may the result be anthems of 
rejoicing in heaven over very many brought 
to repentance. 



REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE. 

At a meeting held on the 5th of February, 1848, the 
undersigned were appointed a committee to superintend the 
erection of a building for the use of the Howard Sunday 
School, and now beg leave to submit to the contributors an 
account of their stewardship, and to announce the com- 
pletion of the beautiful structure on Shippen street between 
Third and Fourth streets, and its readiness for the occupan- 
cy of the school, on Sunday, 10th inst. It is with unfeigned 
pleasure and gratitude to God that we are enabled to report 
that thus far we have been blessed in our attempt to benefit 
our fellow-creatures, and to place in your hands a structure, 
convenient for the purposes intended, and from which, we 
trust, will be disseminated those important truths which will 
not only ameliorate the temporal condition of multitudes, 
but lead them by a way, which now they know not, to 
eternal and unfading joys beyond the troublous scenes of 
time. 

After entering upon the duties assigned them, your Com- 
mittee issued proposals for the erection of a building in ac- 
cordance with a resolution adopted by you, at the meeting 
above mentioned, designating a house three stories high, and 
submitted specifications for that purpose, for such a build- 
ing, thirty-six feet front by sixty feet deep * to be built in 
* The lot is 40 feet front by 110 feet deep. 

5 



40 APPENDIX. 

the most substantial manner, of the best materials and 
workmanship. Several plans and estimates were received, 
and after much deliberation your Committee concluded to 
accept that offered by Messrs. Stuart and Phillips, as being 
the least expensive, and combining all the advantages of the 
others; accordingly they entered into contract with those 
gentlemen, for the erection of a building in accordance with 
a plan submitted by them, for the sum of $4,270, to be 
completed on the 1st of August. 

During the erection of the building, some slight altera- 
tions were made, not included in the contract, making an 
additional expense of Si 26.82 to Stuart and Phillips, in- 
creasing the amount of their contract to §4,396.82 
Other work, not in their estimate, including fur. 
nishing the room with settees, lamps, &c, 
amounting to 3S2,73 



Making the total cost of the building,* $4,779.55 

Messrs. Stuart and Phillips have re- 
ceived $2,875.00 

Donations in work and material, 143.30 

Cash paid for insurance, water rent, 

and lamps, 19.34 



Making total amount paid, $3,037.64 



Leaving balance unpaid and due upon the build- 
ing, $1,741.91 

* Subject to a ground rent of $.200 per annum. 



APPENDIX. 47 

The subscriptions not yet collected amount to $240, 
which will leave a debt of $1,500 to be provided for, during 
the coming year, and your Committee trust that all who 
feel an interest in the success of the enterprise in which 
we have embarked, will use every exertion in their power 
to accomplish this desirable object, so that we shall be 
enabled to meet our obligations to the builders ; to whom 
it is due to say, that nothing has been left undone upon 
their part, to finish the building in a satisfactory manner. 

Your Committee, in completing their labours and placing 
the building in your possession, beg leave, in conclusion to 
remark, that they believe the material used in its construc- 
tion is of good quality, and the workmanship such as wil* 
meet your approval; care has been taken not to incur un- 
necessary expense, and at the same time to do all in a sub- 
stantial manner. The upper rooms extending over the 
whole building, are well adapted for school rooms,* being 
large, well-lighted, and ventilated, and, upon the whole, 
the building is an ornament, and we hope will prove a 
blessing, to the district in which it is located. 
All which is respectfully submitted. 

Henry Lelar, 

John Ml Harper, 

William H. Hart, }► Building Committee. 

L. C. Edmunds, 

Wm. D. Snyder, 

Philadelphia, September 7th, 1848. 

* The upper rooms have since been leased to the Controllers of the 
Public Schools. 



48 APPENDIX. 

At a meeting of the contributors to the Howard Sunday 
School Building, held September 7th, 1848, the following 
gentlemen were elected Trustees. 

Henry Lelar, 

John M. Harper, 

William D. Snyder, 

William H. Hart, 

Luther C. Edmunds 

William S. Boyd, 

William A. Solomon. 



TEACHERS OF THE HOWARD SUNDAY SCHOOL. 
Henry Lelar, Superintendent, 
John M. Harper, Assistant do. 
William D. Snyder, Librarian and Secretary, 
Henry Harper, Assistant Librarian, 
William Stitt, do. do. 

William A. Solomon, William S. Boyd, 

Luther C. Edmunds, James S. Chambers, 

T. Esmond Harper, James Steel, 

Joseph Agnew, 
Mrs. Elizabeth Gennenback, Miss Sally Harper, 
Mrs. Olivia Bancroft, Miss Lydia Stevenson, 

Miss Hester Stevenson, Miss Catherine Stevenson, 

Miss Jane Steel, Miss Susan Miller, 

Miss Mary Ann Davis, Miss Sarah Lindsay, 

Miss Jane Matthews, Miss Susan M. Harper, 

Miss Sarah Bancroft, Miss Triphene Matthews, 

M iss Helen Haram. 



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